Vehicle running-gear.



PATEN'I'EDNUNE 12, 1906.

F. J. SINGLBIL VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR. APPLIUATIOH FILED AUqfl. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Nor 823,371. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906. F. J. SINGLER.

VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5 7 0 A IL N I I A /6 7 I I /6 Z. Z "Z -To all whom it may concerns. 1

UNITED STATES- P TENT oEEIoE.

FRANK J. 's1NeLEE, or TEMPLE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR oE oNE-HALETo n BARTHoLoMEw, OF MINEOLA, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

Application filed August 1. 1905. Serial No, 272.223.

Be it known that I, FRANK J SINGLER, citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented new and useful struction of the fifth-wheel reach-beams and attendant parts, and has for its objects to .provide a comparatively simple inexpensive, .device of this character wherein the kingboltusually employed is dispensed with, one in which the fifth-wheel will move smoothly and evenly during the operation of turning.

' the axle, and one in which the latter will be ront axle and fifth-wheel.

guided in its movements and rattling of the parts obviated.

A further object of. the invention is to rovide an improved form of reach-beam o inexpensive construction which may be readily attached or detached, thus permitting its removal and replacement by a new one when worn or otherwise damaged, one in which the beam will be maintained in firm secure con nection with its attaching members, and one wherein the beam will be firmly braced from both the front and rear axles.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel. features of .construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective v1ew of the front portlon of a running-gear embodying the invention. Fig.

.1 is a similar view of the rear portion of the I running-gear. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the running-gear. Fig. 3 is a vertical lonitudinalsection taken centrally through the Fig. 4 is a detail .perspective view of the front portion of the front brace.

section through the front portion of one of inte raltherewith an Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal the reaches. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the rear portion of the reach. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the rear braces.

Referring to the 'drawings, 1 designates the front, axle, to which is secured, by means of clips. 2, a member or late 3, havin formed d at its longitu inal center t e lower portion or member 4 of the turntable or fifth-wheel 5, said member, which projects vertically upward from the plate 3, be

ing of circular form in horizontal section and hav ng at its upper end a reduced portion or neck 6, while upon the lower face of the mem. ber or plate 3 there are provided at suitable mtervals depending projections or studs 7,

tudinalcenter the upper portion or member 13 of the fifth-wheel, said member, which is of circular form in horizontal section, being vertically disposed and provided with a socket 14 to receive the reduced portion or neck 6 of j the lower member 4.

Formed upon and at the endsof the plate 12 are upper arcuate bearing members or guides 15, adapted to be seated and for movement upon corresponding uide members or.

ways 16, formed upon and adjacent to the ends of the lower 7 late 3, the members 15 being provided wit inner depending flanges 17, adapted for cooperation with outer upris ing flanges 18, formed upon the members 16 ,to prevent relative endwise movement of the .members or lates 3 and 12, there bein entered throug the latter a member or bo t 19 for pivotally connecting the members 4 and 13 of the turn-table 5.

Extending between the head-block 8 and rear axle 20 is a pair of reach-beams 21, which are composed, preferably, of metal tubing and which have their forward ends tapered gradually and their rear ends reduced and squared. The forward ends of the reach-beams 21 are secured to attaching members 23 by means of rings 22 and studs 26, said studs being formed integral with the inner faces of the members 23 and seated in sockets formed in the forward ends of the reach-beams 21. The members 23 are curved in cross-section and tapered to conform to the curvature and taper of the forward ends of the reach-beams 21. The forward ends of the members 23 are provided with upstanding portions or heads 24, which are perforated for the reception of bolts 25,

used to secure the attaching members to the head block 8. The upturned portions of the heads 24 of the members 2.3 are arranged at an angle with relation to the members 23, whereby the members may be secured to the head-block 8 to project diagonally reverse directions therefrom. The taper of the mem bers 23 and the forward ends of the reach-- beams 21 permits them to be secured firmly together/by means of the rings 22 and permits said rings to be moved longitudinally to tighten the connection therebetween should occasion demand. The rear ends of the reachbeams 21 are secured to the axle 20 by means per member 28 has its rear end extended rearwardly, as at 33, said extensions '33 being positioned directly beneath the rear axle 2-0. The rear ends of the members 28 and 29 are, secured together, as well as to the axle 2.0, by' means of clips 34.

The reaches 21 are further connected to the front axle 1 by means ,ofa brace 35, having a vertically-uprising projection or stud 36, entered into a suitable socket in a plate 35*, attached to the under side of the axle 1 and provided with a pair .of rearwardly-extending-divergent arms 37, boltedor otherwise secured, respectively, to the reaches 21, said brace being further provided with a forward extension 38, perforated vertically to receive the lower end of a vertical connecting member or bolt 39, the upper end of which is engaged with a member or bracket 40, projecting forwardly and horizontally from the plate 12, this bolt 39 serving conjoint-1y with the bolt 19 to maintain the members of the fifth-wheel in assemblage. The rear-ends of the reaches are connected to the rear axle 20 by braces 41, extended diagonally between the reaches and axle and each having at its rear end an angular'ly-disposed portion 42, adapted to lie beneath and transverse to the axle and perforated for engagement by an attaching-clip 43, there being formed i pon the front end of each brace a perforated clipplate 44, arranged to extend transversely to the reach and designed for engagement by one of the clips 30.

In practice during movement of the front axle the member 13 will rotate freely upon the member 4, while the plates 3 and 12, included in the fifth-wheel, will be guided in their relative movements through the me- .dium of the bearing members 15 and guides 16,, it beingobvious that under this construction the king-bolt usually employed is dispensed with and that relative vertical movement of the parts of the fifth-wheel is obviated, thus wholly overcoming the objectionable noise and rattling heretofore present in devices of this character. It is also apparent that under my construction the reach-beams are materially simplified and their cost reduced to a minimum and that owing to their detachable engagement with the members 23 and 27 through the medium of the rings 22 and clips 30 they may when worn or otherwise rendered defective be quickly removed for replacement by new ones, and, further, that the parts of the runninggear as a whole are greatly strengthened through the medium .of the braces 41 and are of an efficient durable character.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a comparatively simple inexpensjive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, one in which the movements of the turn-table will be free and easy, and one in which the reach-beams and braces are of a simple inexpensive nature, it

. being understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination with the head-block and rear axle of a vehicle, of tubular reach-beams provided with sockets adjacent to their ends, each reach-beam having its forward end tapered and its rear end reduced and squared, forward attaching members curved in crosssection and tapered to conform to the construction .of the forward ends of the reachbeams, said attaching members bein provided with upstanding and angular y-disposed heads, means passing through the heads for securing the attaching members to the head-block, rings applied over the attaching members and forward ends of the reach-beams, rearward attaching members socketed to receive the reduced and squared ends of the reach-beams, means for securing the reduced and squared ends of the reachbeams in the sockets of said rearward attaching members, and means for securing said rearward attaching members to the rear axle, said attaching members being provided with studs fitting in the sockets of the reachbeams.

2. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination with the head-block and rear axle of a vehicle, of tubular reach-beams provided with sockets adjacent to their ends, each reach-beam having its forward end tapered and its rear end reduced and squared, forward attaching members curved and tapered to conform to the forward ends of the reachbeams and provided with studs fitting in the ends of the reach-beams, clips for securing the members of the rearward attaching members about the reduced and squared ends of the reach-beams, and means for securing the rearward attaching members to the rear axle, said last-mentioned attaching means also serving to secure the members of the rearward attaching members together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. SINGLER.

Witnesses:

J NO. L. IRVIN,

E. L. BERRY. 

